Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-11-05
". e. GLADSTONE AT CHURCH.
A Morning with Him In the OLD Chapel
at Hawardens

| A Morning with Him I'm the Old Chapel
at Hawarden.
| crRious CROWDS THAT GATHER ABOUT TIE boon
As TEE .RRMIkR GOES TO woRsHP-HR READS
THE LESSONS AND MRS. GLADSTONE JOINS AUpIBLY
IN TIE ResPoNsEs-rHE GRAND OLD MANS COUNTRY
Hoxk
Correspondence of the Indianapolis News.
After q correspondents with Right Hon. W. Z.
Gladstone, NJ. p, In relation to which shall have
something to say hereafter, was Informed that
he was staying at his country seat, Hawarlen Cas-
Tie. and that there wa possibility that he would
read the lessons for the day on Sabbath, the 4th
day OF september, 1887; so, after quiet breakfast
at the famous old hosiery OF The Queen. at Ches-
ter, ], in company with two friends, took my seat
on the d ag that starts every sunday morning in
the season for Hawarden church. We raitled
through the streets OF the quaint old walled city
on the Dee, passing those doube-decked rows OF
arcaoes, strange old surv1vals OF bygone fashion
that may yet be revived by some architect seeking
new inspiration from the fancies OF his PARKWAY
ancestors; passed the castle and the race-course
on the Roodee, known as the Chester Punch Bowl
and leaving on the left Eaton Hall, where the
Duke OF Westminster owns the most superb place
or modern days, the only fault OF which Is the
equipments we struck out over the level plains Of
Fnntshire toward where the Welsh mountains
rose In dark neutral masses against the clear blue
SAY oi me 1all morning so we sped on Tor some
miles, when a halt was called and we, the
stouter members OF the society, were Invited TO
walk up the hill on which the village and church
OF Hawarden are perched-
HAwARDEN CHURCH.
The village consists OF single street about half
mile IN length, 1anked on one side by the de-
mesne wall and on the other by struggling line
OF cottages all very picturesque and old
Inc avenue through me castle grounds crosses me
arch In sort or chapter house, whence between
some splendid elms superb view over the low
Hawarden is an old place, for somewhere in the
tenth century, In the sixth year or the reign OF
Conan, King OF North Wales, there Was a
Christian temple there, with which many singular
legends are connected. After various meSne owner
ships and transfers the estate became vested in
the Glynn family early in the last century. 1t
has been their homestead ever since having finally
descended through his mother, Mrs. Catherine
Gladstone, sister OF Sir stephen Glynn In 1874 to
become famous as the residing place OF the
statesman. The church was founded In legend
airy ages by one Saint Delniol to whom the To- OF
December is dedicated as his saints day. 1t Is q
substantial building of the sixteenth with
an admirable chime or SIX bells, dated 1742. The
list OF rectors who formerly proved wills, held
their own consistoral courts and granted marriage
licenses by special permission OF the pope contn-
ued at the Reformation, goes back TO 1lSO, and
even now the rector Is empowered to grant mar
rage licenses.
There were quite a number OF curious visitors
gathered around the sde-door OF the church wait
Ing 10 see the Gladstone family arrive, but when
the bells stopped ringing most OF them made for
the main entrance and were duly allotted seats in
told him wanted good place, and got what
wanted; so did he with 63 cents or thereabout in
cold silver.
Gladstone walked In AL alone. He threw shoul-
der cape of broadcloth, lined with silk wadding, on
the bench next the reading desk, which faces the
pulpit, placed shiny black six hat thereu pom nd
knet In intense reverence for about a minute. he
was dressed In a low-cut black frock-coaJ, waist
coat which was lower still, since 1t never was
a SleDhPrdS
pla trousers, and wore a red-brown dOgSk1n
glove on MS left hand. In the button hoe OF his
coat Was red rose with buncn or green leaves
and white maybellS, and he looked wonderfully
Ike his innumerable pictures, save that he was
somewhat understood; but tnen one Is apt TO ex-
poct that such great man as he should be giant
In physique, as he is In Intellect and inflde zee.
he Was trim, stalwdrt and erect, wonderful 10 see
when one remembers tn II he almost came into life
with the current century. AS he stood with his
back 10 the nghL the Wrinkles or HIS strong
were blended 10 sweet Deni entity, his naid was
white, long and graceful, While the clear, waxy
pc chDlow OF his countenInce was set of with
charming effect by the meagre White hair halo
round his head. A double tortoise-snell eyeglaSs
DANCED from black SILK ribbon, and with this his
fingers sometimes Played or toyed In the arrang-
Ing and di,irranging OF stud In his Snirt bosom.
Mrs. Gladstone came In and took her seat a
minute or two later. she was dressed In a maroon
clotn wrap and suit and bonnet TO mltcn. she Is
an English lady OF the aqueiine arl,tocratc type
that Tnackery has drawn so often In his books,
and very closely resembles the late George Eliot.
she carried in her uncovered hand loose bunch Of
roses, which she Laid down after the preliminary
prayer. She wore an Old miniature set as b, Ooch
and a diamond and keeper rings on the third
finger OF her left hand. During Tue PRAYERS she
kept her hands folded, sometimes swaying them
TO and fro, as In ecstasy OF DEVOTION and during
tue creeds she faced Iull east and bowed very low
Mrs Gladstone Is said 20 be the most Independent
and original woman in England az re- ards the
fashion OF her garm nts, aud che personality OF her
taSte IN costume - generally conceded. To me sue
seems 60 be d lady who has her own ideas OF what
was nigh, AMI proper, and who carried out those
Ideas just as sue thought fit. Her style. or lack "
STYLE Is ali her own; IL Is the worse for the
celebrated ST Itesnan Who calls her vile when she
greetS MIN at the door OF The mouse Of commons
aIter debate and takes him straight home with
her. The tnlrd seat In the Jew was occupied by
Mr.. IL. G. Gladstone. Mrs. Gladstone 1oined
audiDly III the responses, sang vigorously and
very courteousiy sent Us d prayer-DOok When sac
noticed there was only one little one between
three OF US.
During most OF the time Mr.. Gladstone remained
absolutely nolionleS5, with eyes closed In still
alteration. lie joined IN the responses and in The
singing, out wneu he stood up II twisted his lert
foot Oh The toe WITH d very peculiar VII sge and
leaned heavily on the standard or the ietJ. Tney
sang just as AIN, and then he Strengthened up,
still with blind eyes. On tue bench In front OF
hiin We're row OF lat, red-faced little bumpkins:
behind MIN pretty country dam ,el the roses ner
cneeks 1ialned with long boa OF Waite Iur Whine
the sunlgnL .aZed through the stained-giass win.
ao@s luto SpIas-ieS OF many rcn coors on the
stone flags aIi lit up in "a liant dayIht the @ cen
grass, Inc Whispering trees and the gray Silent
monuments OF the DEAD That one could In Gods
acre BACK through the lancet door Opening from
the chanceL II was a picture for thinking ou-tne
boys, tne old man, the GIRL tue graves.
w.en the anthem WAS edIed air. Gladstone
walked swiftly, Dut noioeleosiy, up the Ieclern
splendid cage with Out5treIched wings done In
carved OAK, AM read tue story or Naandn and the
little syrian mad. His style Was the perfection
or SIN ylcity, SO simple that one wa, almost
tempted TO believe IL the perfection OF art. AT
INST the voice Was N Iiel. bat cleared a, IL went
on; the rendering Was that or Intelligent lay
man; there Was no clerical droning no nonotony
F.O4n time 10 time ne would bend the leaves or
tne Iolio Blole Win one hand buL one lost track
or his manherisIlS IN listen NJ TO what ne had TO
say and tnit think, Is Sulicien. criticism OF Mr.
| GiLds.one's re .ldtng or the lessons
Between tne inst and second lessons he seated
hn5el on SIN AL, udre Stool directly In frOut OF
Inc reading desk and mere again he toOH up hi,
pJ iuon during the sermon, wnen ne assumed the
well-knOwn parli enJdry attitude neces5itated by
the Scdnd1lOuS lnconvenience5 Of ST. stephens
his arms and legs pied and crossed one on TOD OF
the o.ner, the wllOie body DISPOSED that undiS-
covered Cat nap, were quIte possible. After the
! service Mr.. Gladstone returned TO his seat: he
waited lOr the communion, anu as passed out lie
| and MIS-. Gladstone were Dotn bowed In the Op-
| uy1Jn or deyuuJ prayer.
When / submitted the foregoing for approval to
Mr.. Gladstone, by wnoiniL was returned with one
or two minor correc lOaS, 1 ASKED unlef what
sanction ne, as lay man, TOOK personal part In
the church service, Ind wa informed In reply that
any lay may read Tue lessons ana some other
PORTIONS OF the service, and That at Okiord and
Undergraduates 70 whom prizes Tor excellence In
ei0cuIion are given.
QuickIime Instead OF Cremation.
From the London Life. :.
Cremation seems to make but slow progress and
comes indeed, so violently int conflict with popu-